Fatty foods still too tempting for many Americans

Although many Americans have adopted a low fat diet, one third of adults still select whole milk over skim milk, and more than 80% add butter or some other type of fat to their baked potatoes and bread.

Researchers from Texas A&M University in College Station investigated the dietary habits of 5,649 individuals aged 20 years and older. About 45% or more adults surveyed reported trimming fat from their meat, removing skin from their chicken and rarely eating potato chips. On the other hand, fewer than 20% of those surveyed said they regularly ate baked or boiled potatoes without adding butter, margarine or sour cream, that they avoided putting butter or margarine on their bread, that they always selected low-fat cheese or that they ate fruit for dessert.

Further, while close to 35% of individuals said they always drank fat-free or 1% milk, about one-third of their peers said they never used these lower-fat substitutes in place of 2% or whole milk.

Women were reportedly more likely than men to say that they avoided red meats, eggs, high-fat sauces on vegetables, and butter or margarine on their bread. Women were also more likely to report removing skin from their chicken, and substituting lower-fat luncheon meats, dairy desserts and salad dressings for higher-fat alternatives, the findings show.

Based on these findings, the next steps to following a low fat diet would be trying to have fruit for dessert, choosing fat-free milk and adding low-fat cheese to the diet.

All research on this web site is the property of Leslie Beck Nutrition Consulting Inc. and is protected by copyright. Keep in mind that research on these matters continues daily and is subject to change. The information presented is not intended as a substitute for medical treatment. It is intended to provide ongoing support of your healthy lifestyle practices.

All research on this web site is the property of Leslie Beck Nutrition Consulting Inc. and is protected by copyright. Keep in mind that research on these matters continues daily and is subject to change. The information presented is not intended as a substitute for medical treatment. It is intended to provide ongoing support of your healthy lifestyle practices.